Study: Cannabinoids Effective for Post Traumatic Stress Patients
According to a new study titled Use of cannabinoids for the treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, the consumption of cannabinoids and cannabinoid products is safe and effective in the mitigation of symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS). The study is published in the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology and was epublished by the National Institute of Health.
For the study researchers examined data published within the past ten years assessing the use of cannabinoids in patients with PTS. Researchers examined studies that used both natural and synthetic THC and CBD.
“Cannabinoids were shown to improve overall PTSD symptoms, including sleep quality and quantity, hyperarousal, and treatment-resistant nightmares”, states the study.” They conclude by stating that: “Cannabinoids have been shown to be an effective treatment option for patients with PTSD. Besides aiding to relieve the symptoms and enhance extinction training, they also are relatively well tolerated.”
According to a study published last year in the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (and also epublished by the National Institute of Health), those with post-traumatic stress disorder who consume marijuana display reduced symptoms over time compared to those who do not use marijuana at all. The study states “Participants who used primarily THC-dominant cannabis reported a greater reduction in PTSD symptom severity over time compared to controls. Cannabis users also showed a greater than two-fold rate of remission from their PTSD diagnosis (defined by no longer meeting criteria for a PTSD diagnosis on the CAPS-5) compared to controls by the 1-year follow-up assessment.”
Full text of the study, “Use of cannabinoids for the treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder,” appears in the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology. Additional information on cannabis and PTSD is available from NORML.
Full Abstract
Below is the study’s full abstract of the study:
Objectives:
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a diagnosis of extreme anxiety caused by a traumatic event. Less than 10% of individuals who have experienced severe trauma will develop this disorder. Treatment options include various psychotherapies, but not all patients respond to them. Different pharmacological approaches have been explored as potential adjuvants, including using cannabinoids to target the endocannabinoid system to reduce the symptoms and enhance extinction training over the associated fear memories. This review was aimed to determine the effects of using cannabinoids for treatment of PTSD.
Content:
For this review, four cohort studies, four randomized clinical trials, one case report, and one case series were obtained from PubMed within the last 10 years. Cannabis extracts, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and synthetic cannabinoids were used in the studies to target the cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. Cannabinoids were shown to improve overall PTSD symptoms, including sleep quality and quantity, hyperarousal, and treatment-resistant nightmares. When participants were undergoing extinction training, cannabinoids given within the same time interval enhanced consolidation and retention.
Summary and outlook:
Cannabinoids have been shown to be an effective treatment option for patients with PTSD. Besides aiding to relieve the symptoms and enhance extinction training, they also are relatively well tolerated. Common adverse effects included light-headedness, forgetfulness, dizziness, and headaches.